Thornton f



(No Model.)

T. F. ALTMAN. CLOTHES LINE PROP.

No. 438,131. Patented Oct. 14, 1890.

@aest. I

ATENT THORNTON F. AIJTMAN, OF GREENFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDXVARD L. MCOLAIN, OF SAME PLACE.

CLOTH ES-LINE PROP.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Iatent No. 438,131, dated October 14:, 1890.

Application filed May 3, 1890. Serial No. 350.413. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THORNTON F. ALTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenfield, in the county-of Highland and State of 5 Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Line Props; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

reference being had to the annexed drawing,

[ which forms part of this specification.

This invention relates to those clothes-line props which are rendered longitudinally adjustable by causing an upper section to slide along a lower section; and my improvement I comprises a specific arrangement of devices for retaining the shiftable section at any desired elevation. These devices include a transverse slot in one edge, and near the upper end of the lower section a series of undercut 2o notches in the corresponding edge of the upper section, and a spring-catch, which latter is secured to said lower section and has at its free end a lateral extension that engages with said slot and one of said undercut notches when 2 5 the prop is raised, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the annexed drawing a perspective view of my longitudinally-extensible clothes-line prop is shown.

A represents the lower or ground section of the prop, and B the upper or line section of the same, which members A B must be so coupled together as to permit a ready longit-udinal extension thereof. This coupling is 5 preferably effected by a pair of bands or loops 0 O, the upper one of which 0 is fastened at the top of ground-section A,in order that the line-section B may slide freely within said band. The other band C is secured to the bottom of the line-section B and is adapted to slide smoothly along the other section A.

Furthermore, these sections are made of wooden strips or slats of practically the same size and length, and one edge of the upper section B is provided with a series of undercut notches D to receive a lateral extension E at the free end of a spring F, whose fixed end is secured in the edge of section A. G is a small slot or kerf cut in this edge of said section to permit the extension E to play back and forth. H is a notch in the upper end of section B, and I is a handle or knob near the lower end of the same.

When this prop is in its most compact or closed condition, the section B fits snugly against the other section A, as indicated by the dotted lines in the figure, thereby enabling the device to be stowed away in a very small com= pass or to be shipped with facility to any place; but when the prop is to be used the handle I is grasped and section B is run up until the notch H engages with the clothes-line, and then the lateral extension E of the springoatch F snaps into the proper notch D, and thus looks or retains said section at the desired height. This adjustment or shifting of section B is accomplished without any special manipulation of said catch on account of the manner in which the notches D are arranged; but when said section is to be retracted or lowered the extension E of said catch must be grasped and drawn aside, so as not to engage with said notches; but as these notches are somewhat undercut the upper section must first be slightly raised before the catch can be disengaged, which peculiar arrangement of said notches prevents slipping of said catch. Consequently there is no danger of the upper section accidentally dropping.

I claim- The within-described specific construction of clothes -line prop, which construction includes the lower section A, having a loop 0 secured to its upper end and a transverse slot G cut across its edge near said loop, a shiftable section B, having a loop 0 at its lower end and a series of undercut notches D across its edge, and a spring F, secured to said lower section A, the free end of said spring being bent to afford a lateral projection E, that eno gages'with said slot and one of said undercut notches, all as herein described, and for the purpose stated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THORNTON F. ALTMAN.

Witnesses:

J. H. WILT, J. FRANK WILsON. 

